The Busy Language Learner

I recently signed up to try out Shannon Kennedy of Eurolinguiste's 7-day email course called Busy Language Learner and found that it is full of excellent tips and advice to help people with busy schedules who juggle many responsibilities such as work, family, studies, and struggle to find time for language learning. And if you love that email course, you'll certainly want to check out her bigger program Language Learning Accelerator because BLL is just a small taste. Why am I such a big fan of `{`this program`}`? I really struggle with getting organized and as a busy language teacher, father to two young children (ages 2 and 4), and struggling language learner, I need advice from fellow language learners who know how to manage their time effectively. Shannon is also busy with work, raising a young child, and maintaining an active music career, so if she has figured out how to handle all that and manage to learn several languages ... and still find time to build a course that teaches people how to manage their time and learn languages, then there's a ton of valuable insights that she can share. I even suspect that she might have a superhero cape hanging in her closet.

I loved it! It was so nice to hear fresh ideas on “fitting in the time” even if I have the time, they were good for me insofar as motivation. The “Two Minute Rule” was awesome, and it has worked every time. I always get sucked in and before I know it, I am studying! The tip on how to “Make” time was wonderful, in that it took my guilt away when I do some of those very things. Normally I chide myself for feeling like I am “goofing off” but in reality, I am watching something in Spanish and I am hearing vocabulary I know (SO exciting!) and hearing vocabulary I want to learn. So, thanks for taking the guilt out of my day(s)! I think you have a really good course here`{`.`}`

The course helped Francesca come up with new ways to study. In her words:

``I had not even considered that the cartoon watching as a language learning activity for me! I had mentally filed it as 'language learning for the kids'. I was also starting to use the time that they were watching to get other stuff done but you have inspired me to totally rethink the way we watch cartoons. I've now turned it from a passive (and therefore pretty useless) experience for the kids into a really interactive, effective language experience for all of us!``

``The course was very helpful. It helped me clarify my goals and my learning approach, and to really commit to re-learning a language in which I've become rusty. I took notes and plan to revisit the exercises in your course fairly regularly, as schedule changes and skills change bringing new opportunities (e.g. being able to understand podcasts and newscasts in my target language; then I can listen to those while working out). I can see myself doing that; it seems like a great framework for continuing to achieve.``

``I liked that the reading assignments are very short, but packed with helpful information. I definitely feel more motivated to learn and make time for studying with your course!``